Each laugh and smile they shared helped beat back the darkness of the past day and night. The ceremony was blessedly short, the bishop not one to drone on with flowery sentiment.
“And now you may kiss to seal your promises to one another.” The bishop gifted them with a beatific smile.
Diana felt as if they’d already made their promises to one another on a cold, hard floor not sure whether they would live or die. They’d lived, and so they would love and keep one another safe.
Cole wrapped an arm around her waist and brought her close for the binding kiss. Even after they broke apart, their gazes held and melded. It might as well have been just the two of them in the room.
Piers cleared his throat. “I’m feeling rather tired, aren’t you, Liam?”
Liam took their mother’s arm. “Indeed, and I believe you are looking rather wilted, Mother. It’s been a long, trying day.”
Their mother pressed a starched white handkerchief to her lips and murmured, “My little lamb won’t be coming with us.”
Diana took her mother’s hand and met Rose’s weepy gaze. “No, but I’ll see you so often you won’t even realize I’m gone. I promise.”
Another half hour passed while congratulations and goodbyes were shared all around. Finally Lettie led Diana to a bedchamber with Cole’s masculine touches, from the dark shades of blue to the shaving kit on the bureau.
“I apologize, Miss Grambling. I mean Lady Linley.” While Lettie’s tongue stumbled over her new title, Diana’s brain stumbled.
She was a countess.
Lettie fluffed the pillows and straightened the coverlet. “The master has instructed me to bring you here. The fete has kept the servants busy, and there was no time to air out the adjoining chamber. Tomorrow is Boxing Day, and the master has given the servants the day off, but it will be seen to immediately after.”
“It’s fine, Lettie.” Diana ran her hand over the rich, heavy draperies tied at the corner of the heavy, dark oak four-poster bed. No evidence of a single moth. “I’m not even sure I’ll need a chamber of my own.”
When Lettie’s eyes went wide, Diana bit her lip and gave a brittle laugh. She might hold the title of countess, but she still had much to learn.
“There’s warm water in the basin.” Was it Diana’s imagination, or was Lettie’s tone as brisk as sea wind? “Would you like a night rail and robe?”
“That would be most welcome. This was such a surprise, I don’t have any of my things.” As soon as it was out of her mouth, she realized she wouldn’t need a night rail. She twisted the ring on her finger and stared at the bed as reality set in.
The sleepiness from the wine disappeared in a snap. Her head spun from everything that had happened the past few days. Her life had changed in ways she hadn’t anticipated or prepared for.
Her innocence had been torn asunder. Not her physical innocence, although she supposed it, too, was gone, but her innocence in the world around her. Men who would stop at nothing, even murder, roamed and threatened her once safe world. Had her world ever been truly safe, or had her recent experiences merely revealed dark rifts.
“Lady Linley.” Cole entered the chambers with a smile. “I like the way that sounds.”
She tried to return his smile but found she couldn’t.
His smile morphed into concern. “What’s wrong? Was our wedding too sudden?”
“No. Well, yes.” The sound she made wasn’t quite a chuckle. “But it’s not that. It’s… everything else.”
She didn’t know how to explain herself to him when she was struggling to make sense of things herself.
“I apologize for not taking into consideration your feelings. The past days have been beyond trying.” Cole circled around her with slow steps as if worried she would spook like a frightened hare. Then he lay his hands on her shoulders and pulled her into him, her back to his front, his fingers lightly massaging her tense muscles.
“We… We almost died. Twice.” Her voice had been reduced to a whisper.
“Yes.”
The ties of her dress loosened, but his hands didn’t stray like a lover’s might. The heavy brocade slipped to the floor. Her stays were the next to fall. Then the pins from her hair. He sifted his strong fingers through her hair and rubbed her scalp. It felt heavenly.
He scooped her up and brought her to the bed, flipping the covers back and laying her on the crisp sheets in her chemise. Stripping to his breeches, he climbed in next to her and positioned them like a pair of spoons.
He anchored her and made the dangerous world outside their doors fade. She felt safe and protected. It was his most precious wedding gift to her.
“Our youth is spent with the unwavering knowledge we are invincible, but everyone must face death. Unfortunately, some face the bleak reality before their time, and the experience skews the way they look at the world from that day forward.”
How well he explained the churning around her heart. “You must have faced death on the Peninsula.”
“I did.”
“How did you not let the fear consume you?”
He tightened his arms around her. “The fear did consume me for a bit, but then I realized I had no time to waste. The death of my brothers and my father only drove the point home. It’s why I returned home posthaste to woo you.”
“Woo me or seduce me?” Finally she found a real smile and turned to meet his gaze.
“It was intended as a wooing. I got distracted.” He kissed her, but it wasn’t one meant to seduce. “Now go to sleep, my love.”
“But…?” She shook her head.
“We have the rest of our very long lives together. Tomorrow perhaps we’ll welcome the new day with our passion, but tonight just let me hold you.”
As she slipped off to sleep, she was already looking forward to the dawn.
Ready for more?
An Indecent Invitation Book 1
A Brazen Bargain, Book 2
A Reckless Redemption, Book 3
A Sinful Surrender, Book 4
A Wicked Wedding, Book 5
A Daring Deception, Book 6 (Coming Soon)
Also by Laura Trentham
Historical Romance
Spies and Lovers
An Indecent Invitation Book 1
A Brazen Bargain, Book 2
A Reckless Redemption, Book 3
A Sinful Surrender, Book 4
A Wicked Wedding, Book 5
A Daring Deception, Book 6 (Coming Soon)
* * *
Contemporary Romance
Highland, Georgia Novels
A Highlander Walks Into a Bar, Book 1
A Highlander in a Pickup, Book 2
A Highlander is Coming to Town, Book 3
* * *
Heart of a Hero Novels
The Military Wife
An Everyday Hero
* * *
Cottonbloom Novels
Kiss Me That Way, Book 1
Then He Kissed Me, Book 2
Till I Kissed You, Book 3
Christmas in the Cop Car, Novella 3.5
Light Up the Night, Novella 3.75
Leave the Night On, Book 4
When the Stars Come Out, Book 5
Set the Night on Fire, Book 6
* * *
Sweet Home Alabama Novels
Slow and Steady Rush, Book 1
Caught Up in the Touch, Book 2
Melting Into You, Book 3
About the Author
I hope you enjoyed A Sinful Surrender! If you have a chance please leave a quick review! Although, many readers know me from my Southern-set contemporary romances, the first books I wrote were the Spies and Lovers series! I grew up reading the historical “bodice rippers” of the late eighties and early nineties along with wonderful gothic romances. Now that I have the opportunity to publish all of the Spies and Lovers series, I’m so excited! The Spies and Lovers world will be expanding soon with a new series called, Laws of Attraction!
I was b
orn and raised in a small town in Northwest Tennessee. Although, I loved English and reading in high school, I was convinced an English degree equated to starvation! So, I chose the next most logical major - Chemical Engineering- and worked in a hard hat and steel toed boots for several years. Now I live in South Carolina with my husband and two children. In between school and homework and soccer practices, I love to get lost in another world, whether it's Regency England or small town Alabama.
My first two Falcon Football books received TOP PICKS from RT Book Reviews and a STARRED review from Library Journal. KISS ME THAT WAY, Cottonbloom Book 1, won the Stiletto Contest for Best Long Contemporary and finaled in the National Readers Choice Award. THEN HE KISSED ME, Cottonbloom Book 2, was named an Amazon Best Romance of 2016 and was a finalist for the National Excellence for Romance Fiction. TILL I KISSED YOU, Cottonbloom Book 3, is a finalist in the Maggie contest. LEAVE THE NIGHT ON, the latest Cottonbloom book, was named an iBooks Best Book of the Month and a Recommended Read from NPR. AN INDECENT INVITATION and A BRAZEN BARGAIN were both finalists for the 2014 Golden Heart® Award.
I love to hear from readers! Come find me:
[email protected]
www.LauraTrentham.com
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NOTE: This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.
A WICKED WEDDING
Copyright © 2019 by Laura Trentham
Cover by Angela Waters
Edited by Heidi Shoham
eISBN: 978-1-946306-11-1
* * *
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.
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